Man arrested after allegedly swallowing cocaine

by Wes Mayer

A man received numerous charges Monday after a Newnan Police Department officer found him sitting in his vehicle that was blocking the road.

Just before midnight Monday, Investigator Jeremy Wood with Newnan Police investigated a vehicle sitting in the turning lane with its lights flashing at the intersection of East Broad Street and Lake Drive. According to Wood’s report, he spoke to the driver, later identified as Dexter Bernard Smith Jr., 26, who did not have his license with him and said he was only driving home.

Smith first identified himself as Ryan Smith, Wood said. While speaking to Smith, Wood detected the odor of burnt marijuana in the vehicle, he said.

According to Wood’s report, he asked Smith to step out and asked whether he had any illegal substances in his possession. Smith denied this, but then placed a plastic bag containing a white, powdery substance on his vehicle’s hood.

Suspecting the substance to be cocaine, Wood moved to place Smith in handcuffs, but, according to the officer’s statement in his report, Smith suddenly snatched the bag off the hood and put it in his mouth. Wood then used his X26 Taser to stun Smith, but Smith still managed to swallow the bag.

Smith then told the officer, “You’re wasting your time, it’s gone,” according to Wood. He was then placed in handcuffs and transported to Piedmont Newnan Hospital.

According to Wood, a blood test was taken from Smith at the hospital, during which Smith said, “You can’t charge me with possession of cocaine that was already in my system from three days ago.”

He did not complain of any major pain, and he received medical clearance. Smith was then transported to the Coweta County Jail, where he was charged with possession of cocaine, driving under the influence of drugs, obstruction of justice, giving false information, driving on a suspended license and impeding the flow of traffic.